Hi guys. I’m currently a freshmen studying biological science in college. I know that it is not ideal for me to look at a field of study based on the salary, but I believe it is very important to take that into consideration as I enter the working field. That being said, any adults here want advise me on career choices? Of course, I won’t just follow whatever people say here, but I will definitely take them seriously.
I haven’t found my “passion” yet. I do know what I like and don’t like so far. I was pretty set on going to med school coming into college. But as I research more into the cost benefit of being a doctor, it’s simply not worth it for me personally. The amount of time and effort invested into it is overwhelming and I don’t believe that I have that ambition, that drive to become a successful doctor. I know that many people are truly passionate about being a doctor and I envy that often times. It’s truly beautiful in my opinion.
I looked into physician assistant as well. I’m considering this profession. It does no require as much schooling, nor time and dedication. I’m not as discouraged to be one. The competition for med school is crazy but for PA, it’s slightly easier.
I don’t have the rights or experience to say that I can maintain my current GPA in the future. (3.7) but I will definitely work hard to do so.
Enough talking about myself. I wanted to express how I feel about myself so I can let you guys, those who care and want to help me, can give me some advise about other professions.
I care about salary and the amount of schooling as you guys can tell. I want to go back to the Bay Area to work and support my family. I’ve been looking into few other professions- software engineering and biomedical engineering look pretty cool to me (and less schooling but harder undergraduate). How are they? And what is it like to switch into a major like those?
The reason why I major in bio or consider being a PA is because I want to help people. I know that sounds too vague because you can technically help people in every type of way. I volunteered at the hospital during middle school and high school and I enjoy helping patients. Assisting them gives me a sense of satisfaction and a warm feel in my heart. I liked the feeling of knowing that I helped someone as best as I could. PA allows me to do that. I’m considering BME because I can also help patients like a PA. Being a BME not only allows me to help one patient at a time but multiple by innovating new technology for them. This way I can help hundreds, if not thousands of people if I can become a successful BME. And about software engineering? The pay is great, especially in the Bay Area. I’ve been exposed to technology my whole life and played a lot of games (probably doesn’t matter to a career). I can see myself working in a large company like Google or Apple but those opportunities don’t come around that often. But I can see myself working with technology and stuff in the future.
Thanks for your time and I hope to learn from you guys. (Please don’t troll.)
because there are so many careers that allow you to do that in some way. What’s really helpful is thinking about the way that you like to work. Do you like to interact with people all day long, or do you need some alone time? Would you mind working in your office at a desk most of the day or do you need to move around a lot? Do you need to know that you made individual change in someone’s life immediately (which healthcare professionals do) or are you okay with the more abstract knowledge that your innovations may have changed someone’s live in a more removed way (which is more like biomedical engineering)?